Heat exchanger



Nov. 26, 1968 J. D. MILLIGAN 3,412,787

HEAT EXCHANGER Filed Aug. 81 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR J. D. MILLIGAN HEAT EXCHANGER Nov. 26, 1968 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 8, 1967 Nov. 26, 1968 J. D. MILLIGAN HEAT EXCHANGER 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 8, 1967 INVENTOR. Jo/m Q Mule/w 3,412,787 HEAT EXCHANGER John D. Miiligan, 650 Prospect Ave, Little Silver, NJ. 07739 Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 569,405, Aug. 1, 1966. This application Aug. 8, 1967, Ser. No. 677,811

22 Claims. (Cl. 165--153) ABSTRAIIT OF THE DISCLOSURE The components of the heat exchanger are wound in a spiral manner in a contiguous manner. One component is hollow to form a single continuous chamber for passage of a heated medium therethrough, the other allows flow of a coolant transversely through the heat exchanger over the walls of the chamber to cool the heated medium. The heated medium is introduced simultaneously into a number of convolutions of the first component.

This application is a continuationin-part of my earlier copending patent application Ser. No. 569,405, filed Aug. 1, 1966, now abandoned.

This invention relates to a heat exchanger. More particularly, this invention relates to a portable one piece heat exchanger. Still more particularly, this invention relates to a heat exchanger for use as an automotive radiator.

Heretofore, heat exchangers which have been made for the transfer of heat between liquids and gases have been made from a great number of parts and have been of great weight and bulk. Thus, because of the great number of joints which have been made, fabrication of these heat exchangers has not only consumed a great amount of time but also has been cumbersome.

In several cases, the heat exchangers have been made of a solid type construction which has limited not only the versatility of the exchangers for use with more than one how of a heat exchange medium but also has made the heat exchangers inefficient in use with other structures. In other instances, where the heat exchangers have been formed with spirally wound tubes, such heat exchangers have been limited to the flow of a single heat exchange medium through the tubes from one end of the tube s iral to the other in addition to being ineflicient and bulky.

Generally, this invention provides a heat exchanger formed basically of two components which are sandwiched together and spirally wound into a generally circular configuration about a central aperture. At least one of the components is tubular in cross section and is adapted to conduct a fiow of heat exchange medium whereas the other component provides a parallel or transverse path for the flow of another heat exchange medium. In one embodiment, the heat exchanger is further provided with a pair of manifolds, one of which is provided with metering slots in communication with several of the rings of the tubular component While another is similarly provided with ports so that a heat exchange medium can be introduced into and Withdrawn from a plurality of rings States Patent 3,412,787 Patented Nov. 26, 1968 simultaneously thereby increasing the effectiveness of the heat exchanger.

In another embodiment, a pair of manifolds are secured at opposite sides of the heat exchanger to deliver and carry away the heated medium. In this embodiment, the tubular component is expanded at selected portions along the length so as to form manifold chambers which overlie each other when the tubular component is spirally wound. Several of these overlying manifold chambers are placed in communication with a respective manifold and are provided with metering slots to conduct and distribute the heated medium into respective convolutions of the heat exchanger while the other manifold chambers are provided with ports to draw off the heated medium after passage through the tubular component and deliver the same to the other manifold.

In still another embodiment, the interior walls of the tubular component of the heat exchanger are interrupted to increase the flow path of the heated medium as well as to increase the strength of the tubular component. In one such instance, the tubular component is made from a flattened tube which is initially corrugated along the length and subsequently blown up to form an expanded tube of substantially rectangular cross-section. This blown tube has the interior walls formed in a contour corresponding to the initial corrugation imparted to the tube.

Since the heat exchanger of the invention is made of one piece components, the number of joints which are made for fabrication can be reduced to an absolute minimum. Further, when the manifolds are positioned radially of the spirally wound components, the manifolds can be rapidly positioned on or in the components. Thus, the time necessary for fabricating the heat exchangers is substantially reduced.

In addition, since the heat exchanger can be made of aluminum, not only is the weight and material cost of the heat exchangers substantially reduced over conventional heat exchangers but also the formation of the spirally wound components and manifolds into a rigid unitary structure can be expedited by a simple brazing operation in a brazing oven.

The heat exchanger of the invention provides a versatile structure which can be efliciently used in various environments. For example, when used as a radiator in an automotive vehicle, the usual engine fan is placed to the outside of the heat exchanger with the fan shaft passing through the central opening of the heat exchanger. Thus, the fan is able to push high density air through the heat exchanger while utilizing a greater area of heat exchanger than before possible. In addition, by being made of aluminum rather than copper, a substantial reduction in weight is achieved which lowers the front-end weight of an automobile. Also, depending on the position of the manifolds, where the joints of the heat exchanger are exposed, repairs can be easily and rapidly made.

The heat exchanger is made by positioning a first component in a longitudinally flat plane, positioning a second component in contiguous relation to the first component, Winding the contiguous components into a circular configuration, positioning at least a pair of manifolds in communciation'with spaced portions of the first component for passing a fluid medium therethrough and forming the wound components and manifolds into a rigid unitary structure by brazing or bonding techniques.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a compact heat exchanger which is made of a minimum of parts.

It is another object of the invention to provide a heat exchanger which is of a rigid unitary structure.

It is another object of the invention to provide a heat exchanger of low Weight.

It is another object of the invention to provide a heat exchanger which is easily fabricated.

It is another object of the invention to provide a compact exchanger which can be manually handled.

It is another object of the invention to provide a heat exchanger for an automobile vehicle which allows mounting of a fan in front of the heat exchanger.

It is another object of the invention to provide a heat exchanger for transferring heat between one or more mediums within the exchanger and another medium passing through the exchanger.

It is another object of the invention to provide a heat exchanger which distributes a flow of heat exchange medium within the exchanger to obtain maximum efficiency.

It is another object of the invention to provide a heat exchanger of spirally wound components.

It is another object of the invention to extend the flow path of a heated medium through a spirally wound tubular component of a heat exchanger.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description and appended claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a heat exchanger according to the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a view taken on line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a view of a modification of a heat exchanger according to the invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 illustrates a fragmentary end view of a manifold section of the heat exchanger of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 illustrates a view taken on line 66 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 illustrates a cross-sectional view of another modified heat exchanger of the invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates a view taken on line 88 of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 illustrates a fragmentary perspective view of a flat tube which has been corrugated prior to forming a tubular component of the heat exchanger of the invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the heat exchanger 10 has a rectangularly shaped tubular component 11 and a corrugated plate-like component 12 spirally wound into a generally circular configuration. The ends of the tubular component 11 are blocked so that a completely enclosed spirally wound chamber is formed by the tubular component 11. The corrugated component 12 is secured in contiguous relation between the exterior surfaces of the tubular component 11 as well as to the exterior of the outermost ring of the tubular component to envelop the tubular component.

In addition, the heat exchanger 10 has a pair of manifolds 13 each of which is in communication with the spinally wound tubular component 11 to introduce a fluid medium in a heated state into the tubular component 11 at one point and to remove the fluid medium in a cooled state at another point. For example, each manifold 13 which is of a hollowed construction to permit the pass-age of a fluid medium therethrough is disposed radially within the rings of the tubular component 11. One manifold is provided with a series of fluid metering slots 14 which open into the respective rings for the passage of the fluid medium into all of the rings of the tubular component 11; whereas the other manifold is provided with outlet ports 15 which open into the rings for passage of the fluid medium out of the tubular component. In order to provide a fluid tight heat exchanger, the manifolds 13 are sealingly disposed with respect to the tubular component In order to make the heat exchanger 10 into the desired configuration, the corrugated plate-like component 12 which may initially be flat and subsequently corrugated is laid flat longitudinally. Next, the tubular component 11 is placed over the plate-like component 12 in a sandwichlike relation with the corrugated component 12 extending past the tubular component 11 at one end. Thereafter, while held in fixed relative relation, the sandwiched components are wrapped about a mandrel (not shown) in spiral fashion with the over extending corrugated component 12 being wound about the tubular component 11 to completely enclose the tubular component with the rings of the corrugated component. In order to install the manifolds 13 into the heat exchanger 10, a pair of diametrical bores are bored through the components 11, 12 into the innermost ring of the tubular component. Thereafter, the manifolds 13 are inserted in the bores so that the metering slots 14 and outlet ports 15 formed in the respective manifolds communicate directly with the rings of the tubular component 11 in order to permit the passage of fluid medium between the manifolds and rings of the tubular component 11.

In order to form. the spirally wrapped components 11, 12 and the manifolds 13 into a rigid unitary structure, in which the tubular component 11 and manifold 13 are aluminum and the plate-like component 12 is made from an aluminum brazing sheet, they are brazed together in an oven or by other suitable means.

In operation, in a heat exchanging environment, a heated medium in the form of a liquid such as water is passed through the upper manifold 13 and introduced into the rings of the upper tubular component 11 through the ports 14 of the manifold. The heated liquid medium then travels around the tubular component 11, for example, under the force of gravity when the manifold is disposed in a vertical plane or under fluid pressure. During this time, a cooling medium in the form of a gas such as air is directed transversely through the space formed between the rings of the tubular component 11 by the corrugated component 12. Thus, the heat of the liquid medium is transferred to the cooling medium. Thereafter, the cooled liquid medium leaves the tubular component 11 through the ports 15 of the lower manifold.

The heat exchanger 10 can be modified to provide for a flow of two heated liquid mediums by incorporating a second tubular component and a second corrugated component in similar sandwiched fashion before spirally winding the components and by positioning a second set of manifolds in the respective windings as above. Further, by selective manifolding a heat exchanger may have as many paths of flow as the number of tubular components wound in parallel.

Referring to FIGS. 3 to 6, a heat exchanger 20 is formed in a manner to the above with a pair of flow paths which are wound in a contiguous spiral manner for a heat exchange between two mediums flowing through the exchanger. The 'heat exchanger 20 is formed with a pair of flat sheets 21 and a pair of layers of finning 22 which are initially disposed on one another in alternating fashion and which are subsequently wound into a spiral shape with a central opening. The layers of finning 22 which may each be of more than one width are sized to be of slightly smaller total width than the flat sheets 21 to permit rod-like strips 23 to be placed between the 'rings of the fiat sheets 21 to block the ends of the heat exchanger 20. The rod-like strips 23 can be wound with the sheets 21 and finning 22 or incorporated after the winding of the sheets 21 and finning 22. Also, the longitudinal internal and external ends of the heat exchanger 20 are blocked with plates 24 to form a pair of fully enclosed spirally wound chambers.

A pair of manifolds 25, 26 are provided at each end of the heat exchanger to conduct fluid into and out of the chambers of the heat exchanger. Each manifold (FIG. 5) is provided with a fluid section 28 adjacent an end of the heat exchanger 20. The section 28 is sized to extend radially across the heat exchanger 20 from the innermost ring to the outermost ring and is sealed with respect to the heat exchanger. In order to communicate the manifolds with the chambers of the heat exchanger, alternate rings are provided with metering slots 29 formed in or by the strips 23 within the confines of the manifolds. The slots 29 are so arranged that a flow of fluid medium can be introduced into only one of the chambers of the heat exchanger through a manifold. In addition, the manifolds are arranged so that one flow of fluid medium is introduced through a manifold 25 at one end of the exchanger 20 and removed through a manifold 26 at the other end while a second flow of fluid medium is introduced to flow in an opposite direction from the first flow through a manifold 26 at one end of the exchanger and a manifold 25' at the other end.

The finning 22 adjacent each end of the exchanger is so formed in order to facilitate annular dispersal of a flow of fluid medium into the chambers of the heat exchanger as well as to provide for axial dispersal of the flow of fluid medium.

As above, the heat exchanger 20 may be made of light weight material such as aluminum or of other material such as copper. Also, the manifolds may be formed of half pipe sections welded to the ends of the exchanger and suitably blocked.

In operation, a flow of heated fluid medium A to be cooled is introduced into the heat exchanger 20 at one end through manifold 25. Thereafter, the flow A is dispersed annularly and flows in an axial direction through the heat exchanger 20. The flow is then directed out of the exchanger at the other end through manifold 26. Meanwhile, a flow of cool fluid medium B for cooling the medium A is introduced into the heat exchanger 20 at the other end through manifold 26'. The flow B is similarly dispersed and flows out of the heat exchanger through manifold 25 at the opposite end. While the flow A and B pass through the heat exchanger 26 in opposite directions, heat is transferred from one to the other.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, heat exchanger 30 has a tubular component 31, a corrugated plate-like component 32 spirally wound into a generally circular configuration and a pair of radially oppositely disposed manifolds 33, 33'. The tubular component 31 is similar to tubular component 11 described above; however, tubular component 31 is further provided with a plurality of overlying contiguous manifold chambers 34, 35, 36, 34, 35, 36 in the convolutions thereof. The manifold chambers are spaced longitudinally of the tubular component 31 and are sized to be of a greater thickness than the remainder of the tubular component 31. The corrugated component 32 is suitably apertured to permit the manifold chambers in adjacent convolutions to pass through the corrugated component 32 and to contact each other. The manifolds 33, 33' are formed as hollow tubes and are secured, as by brazing or welding, to the walls of the outermost manifold chambers 34, 34 of the tubular component 31. Like the above described manifolds 13, manifold 33 conveys a heated liquid medium into the tubular component 31 and manifold 33 conveys the cooled liquid medium out of the tubular component 31.

In order to permit passage of the liquid medium through the tubular component 31, manifold chambers 34, 34' are provided with apertures 37, 38 in communication with the respective manifolds 33, 33. These apertures 37, 38 may be formed, for example, by boring, by cutting or by a hot-knife. Additionally, metering slots 39 are formed in contiguous manifold chambers 34, 35, 36 at the inlet side of the heat exchanger 20 to conduct the flow of liquid medium into the several convolutions of the tubular component 31. The metering slots 39 can be sized so as to aid in the distribution of the liquid medium into the several convolutions of tubular component 31. For example, the metering slots 39 are sized to decrease in size toward the center of the heat exchanger 30. Similarly, ports 40 are formed in contiguous manifold chambers 34', 35', 36' at the outlet side of the heat exchanger 30 to convey the cooled flow of me dium out of the heat exchanger through manifold 33.

It is noted that the heat exchanger 30 of FIGS. 7 and 8, can be fabricated more easily than the heat exchanger 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2 in that the manifolds 33, 33' need only be secured to the tubular component 31 on an exterior exposed surface rather than interiorly of the heat exchanger.

Referring to FIG. 9, in order to facilitate the forma tion of tubular component 31 for the heat exchanger 30 of FIGS. 7 and 8, a flat tube 41 which is inflatable is used. In addition, in order to strengthen the tubular component and to impart a higher heat transfer rate to the interior of the tubular component by virtue of extending the flow path and increasing the turbulence of the heated medium, the flat tube 41 is corrugated angularly of the longitudinal axis. The corrugations 42 may be omitted at the manifold sections in the tubular component if such be found necessary in fabrication.

In forming the tubular component 31, the corrugated flat tube 41 is placed within a restraining die in coiled fashion and pressurized. The die is shaped so that, upon pressunization, the tube expands into the configuration which forms the longitudinally spaced manifold chambers as shown in FIG. 7. After formation of the coiled tubular component 31, the corrugated plate-like component 32 is inserted into the tubular component 31. Next, the components, when both are of aluminum, are brazed together with the contiguous manifold chambers also being brazed together. This fabrication technique prevents brazing flux from entering the interior of the tubular component. Additionally, the manifolds 33, 33' can also be brazed at the same time to the outermost manifold chambers. Thereafter, the metering slots 39 and ports 40 are formed in the manifold chambers to complete the heat exchanger 30.

It is noted that the exchangers of the invention may also be used to transfer heat between a plurality of streams of the same or different liquid mediums in the tubular components and a single gaseous medium passing through the exchangers. For example, where two streams of medium are involved, a pair of tubular components are sandwiched within a pair of alternate corrugated components and subsequently Wound and brazed into a circular configuration. Subsequently, by selectively manifolding a pair of manifolds, each stream of medium can be passed through a respective one of the tubular components while both streams are cooled by the same medium. Also, the manifolding may be disposed in a radial alignment at an end of the heat exchanger.

It is also noted that the tubular components may be provided internally with an extended surface as described in regard to FIG. 9 to facilitate the dissipation of heat from a heated medium.

When used as a radiator in an automotive vehicle, the fan shaft of the engine of the vehicle can pass centrally through the heat exchanger of the invention so that the fan is disposed on an opposite side of the heat exchanger from the engine. Thus, the fan which creates a substantially circular stream of cooling air delivers air of greater density through the heat exchanger than if the fan were placed between the heat exchanger and engine.

While the heat exchanger has been described as being circular in configuration, it is pointed out that any suitable configuration may be employed. Further, instead of being formed together, the spirally wound parts may be preformed and inserted one within the other.

Also, since the invention provides a heat exchanger with radially disposed manifolds, not only can a flow of heated fluid medium be rapidly dispersed and cooled in a number of parallel passes within the minimum of space but also a plurality of flows can be passed through the heat exchanger in an efiicient heat exchange manner.

The heat exchanger of the invention is not only simple to make and use but also is efficient in operation, especially in those cases where the heat exchanger is circular and a cooling medium is directed through the exchanger in a circular envelope, such as, in an automotive vehicle radiator and fan system since there is no waste of the heat exchanger surfaces. Further, by using aluminum for the components of the heat exchanger the weight is reduced over other heretofore used devices especially in the front end of automotive vehicles. However, it is pointed out that other materials such as copper can be used.

Having thus described the invention, it is not intended that it be so limited as changes may be readily made therein without departing from the scope of the invend tion. Accordingly, it is intended that the foregoing abstract of the disclosure, and the subject matter described above and shown in the drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. A heat exchanger comprising a first component wound in a spiral manner to form a single chamber for the passage of a heated medium therethrough,

a second component wound in contiguous spiral manner in enveloping relation to said first component for dissipating heat from the medium in said first component, and

manifold means operatively connected in communication with said first component for passing a heated medium through said first component in a plurality of paths simultaneously.

2. A heat exchanger as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second component is a corrugated plate-like component whereby a flow of cooling medium passing transversely through said second component is adapted to cool the heated medium passing through said first component.

3. A heat exchanger as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first component is tubular in cross section and formed with blocked ends to define a chamber for the passage of heated medium therethrough.

4. A heat exchanger as set forth in claim 3 where-in said first component has a pair of oppositely disposed interior corrugated walls.

5. A heat exchanger as set forth in claim 1 wherein said manifold means includes at least a pair of oppositely disposed tubular manifolds, each of said manifolds being secured at least to the outermost convolution of said first component, and being in communication with the interior of said first component at least at one point thereof.

6. A heat exchanger as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first component has a tubular cross-section and a plurality of longitudinally spaced manifold chambers, each of said manifold chambers in a convolution of said first component being contiguous to an adjacent manifold chamber of an adjacent convolution, each adjacent pair of said contiguous manifold chambers being in communication With each other and with said manifold means.

7. A heat exchanger as set forth in claim 6 wherein each manifold chamber on an inlet side of the heat exchanger has a metering slot therein communicating with the contiguous manifold chamber and each manifold chamber on the outlet side of the heat exchanger has a port therein communicating with the contiguous manifold chamber.

8. A heat exchanger as set forth in claim 7 wherein the metering slots decrease in size with respect to each other in a direction inwardly of the heat exchanger.

9. A heat exchanger as set forth in claim 1 wherein said manifold means includes a first radially disposed manifold having a plurality of metering slots in communication with the respective convolutions of said first component for introducing heated medium into each convolution and a second radially disposed manifold having a plurality of ports in communication with said convolutions for withdrawing cooled medium therefrom.

10. A heat exchanger as set forth in claim 9 wherein said first and second manifolds are diametrically opposed.

11. A heat exchanger as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first component includes a plurality of radially aligned metering slots at one end thereof and a plurality of outlet ports at the other end, said second component includes a plurality of radially aligned metering slots at one end thereof and a plurality of outlet ports at the other end, and said manifold means includes a pair of manifolds at each end of the heat exchanger, each of said manifolds being in communication with a respective plurality of metering slots or outlet ports whereby a first flow of fluid medium is adapted to be passed through said first component through one of said manifolds at each end and a second flow of fluid medium is adapted to be passed through said second component through the other of said manifolds at each end.

12. A heat exchanger as set forth in claim 11 wherein said first and second components include a corrugated component.

13. A heat exchanger as set forth in claim 12 wherein said corrugated component is arranged to disperse the fluid medium annularly at each axially disposed end of the heat exchanger.

14. A heat exchanger comprising a first component wound in a continuous spirai manner to form a plurality of rings for the passage of a heated medium therethrough,

a second component wound in contiguous manner in enveloping relation to said first component for dissipating heat from the heated medium in said first component, and

at least one manifold means having a first radially disposed manifold in communication with said first component at a first point, said first manifold including at least one metering slot communicating with an outermost ring of said first component and a metering slot communicating with the innermost ring of said first component and a second radially disposed manifold in communication with said first component at a second point spaced from said first point, said second manifold including at least one outlet port communicating with an outermost ring of said first component and an outlet port communicating with the innermost ring of said first component.

15. A heat exchanger as set forth in claim 14 wherein said first and second components are wound into a generally circular configuration.

16. A heat exchanger as set forth in claim 14 which comprises at least a pair of manifold means, each of said manifold means passing a stream of fluid medium through one of said components.

17. A heat exchanger as set forth in claim 14 wherein said first component is aluminum.

18. A heat exchanger as set forth in claim 17 wherein said second component is aluminum grazing sheet. I

19. A heat exchanger as set forth in claim 14 having a centrally disposed aperture whereby a cooling medium directing means is adapted to be mounted on one side of the heat exchanger opposite an operating system on the other side of the heat exchanger.

20. In combination with a plurality of spirally wound components, one of said components being tubular and having a plurality of convolutions for passage of a fluid medium therethrough, each of said convolutions having a manifold chamber therein disposed in communication with a manifold chamber of an adjacent convolution for passage of the fluid medium therebetween; a manifold secured to one of said convolutions in communication with the manifold chamber therein for the passage of the fluid medium therebetween.

21. The combination as set forth in claim 20 wherein said manifold chambers are contiguous to each other and have metering slots therein communicating contiguous manifold chambers with each other, said metering slots being sized to decrease in size in a direction directed away from said manifold for metering the flow of fluid medium into each of said manifold chambers.

22. The combination as set forth in claim 20 wherein said manifold is disposed transversely of said manifold chamber for passage of the fluid medium transversely between the manifold chambers and manifold.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Armstrong 165-174 X Hyde 165125 Gay 165--174 X Baetz 165-122 Rosenblad 165-166 Booth 165150 Ramsaur 165-152 X Simpelaar 165-153 X Louthan 165-177 X Holrn 165165 X ROBERT A. OLEARY, Primary Examiner.

A. W. DAVIS, Assistant Examiner. 

